How to Preserve the Artistic and Historical Value of Antiques

One of the most significant characteristic of any antique item is its age. Since antiques have been passed down from one generation to the next, these items easily undergo daily wear and tear. Thus, any antique item demands considerable care to preserve and protect its timeless value.

While a professional antique restorer is recommended for more intricate and detail-oriented method of antique restoration, you can also do your part to help maintain the artistic and historical value of your collection. Read on some tips on how to clean precious antique pieces.

Direct sunlight is a no-no for antique furniture. You should never display antique furniture in direct sunlight or beside air-conditioning or heating units. The heat that comes from these sources will deteriorate the fragile state of the antique piece. Place antique furniture in cool areas or better yet ask antique experts of how to properly display your piece. Note that different types of wood require different temperature to maintain its elegance.

Use soft, lint-free cloth for polishing. Soft and lint-free cloth should be used when polishing antique pieces. You should never polish antiques the way you may polish your modern pieces. Remember that antiques are old and can easily be torn, scratched or broken if mishandled.

Move antique furniture with care. Because of the furniture's sensitive condition, you should only move antique pieces when you really have to and only with utmost care. Otherwise, let the furniture stay in one corner of your house to lessen the probability of accidental breaking.

Use your hands when dealing with antique ceramics or glass. Cleaning antique ceramics and glass is quite simple just by using lint-free cloth for regular dusting. However, unlike antique furniture pieces, wearing protective gloves in handling antique ceramic and glass is not advisable. It is more appropriate to handle antiques of this type using your clean hands. It is good to know that sunlight and humidity would not affect the condition of some antique ceramics and glass. To determine sensitive antique items, you must seek the advice of an antique expert.

Store antique ceramics or glass in sturdy shelves. The most common problem with antique ceramic or glass is breakage. Therefore, extra care must be given in its storage. You must never place antique ceramic or glass in unstable cabinets. In case of accidental breakage, place each piece even the smallest one in acid-free tissue and bring to an experienced antique restorer. You must never repair damaged antique pieces on your own to avoid devaluation.

Regularly polish antique silver and metal pieces. Antique silver and metal items are extremely delicate. Antique items made from these materials can react to natural conditions and may result to corrosion, scratches, dents and fractures. Regular and proper cleaning through polishing with soft cloth will reduce the difficulty of maintaining the items' patina. You should use protective gloves when handling antique silver and metal to avoid tarnishing due to body sweat.

Store antique jewellery separately. Antique jewellery is extremely delicate. A piece of jewellery is possible to be made up of several types of precious stone or metal in which one would adversely affect each other through time. This is why you should not store several pieces of antique jewellery in just one box. Make sure that you have a separate box for each piece to avoid chemical reaction.

Hire the expertise of an antique jeweler. Small jewellery pieces make it almost impossible to clean, so an experienced jeweler specializing in antiques is recommended to handle these items.

Driscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of quality antiques and antique furniture. Benedict Yossarian is a freelance Internet Marketing Consultant that can help maximize your exposure online.

How is the Value of Antique Determined?

An antique is prized for its rarity, artistry and age. Experienced antique collectors have grown accustomed to the basics of determining the value of an item. Moreover, they have the ability to distinguish an authentic item from a reproduction or a fake. For first time antique collectors, the skills of seasoned collectors may not be acquired easily. However, there are common guidelines to assist first time antique collectors.

Check the Manufacturers Markings

As first step, an antique collector should look for the mark or stamp of the manufacturer or designer of the antique. This would determine if the item is authentic or fake. An authentic mark of the manufacturer, when proven by an antique expert, would have considerable effect in the actual value of the antique.

With the help of the internet, a collector can use the net to identify recorded marks and then seek an expert advice to establish its authenticity in the item. Credible online antique appraisers may also provide the needed information by simply forwarding photos and descriptions.

Check the Condition of the Item

Take considerable attention to the condition of the item. An antique that is in good condition will have greater value especially if the collector plans to sell it in the future. An item with complete parts is highly regarded. A cracked or chipped antique is less valuable unless the item is very unique and historical. While some antique's cracks and chips have significant value to its artistry and age, it is still advisable that a collector search for an antique of his or her interest in good and acceptable condition.

However, some antique collectors can go ahead and buy items that have small defects if these have significant value in their collection. A good antique collector may ask an antique restorer to repair the antique item but extreme caution should be taken here. Not all antique restorers have the right expertise to restore these valuable pieces.

Evaluate its Rarity

Antiques are also cherished for its rarity or uniqueness. Rarity, when used in the context of antiques, refers to the quantity or number that is presently available in the market. A rare antique increases its monetary value regardless of its condition.

Therefore, it is significant to note that not all items which are at least 100 years old will have similar values. The value of any antique item is based on the marketing idea that when the supply is low, the demand for the item increases and so does its monetary value.

Prove its Authenticity

Authenticity is the most widely discussed subject when it comes to antiques. Accurate reproductions of antiques have risen through the years. An inexperienced antique buyer may have extreme difficulty in distinguishing a fake item from the real thing.

There are various sources which may help a first-time buyer to determine the authenticity of an item. If an individual owns an antique piece which belongs to the family heirloom, a provenance, a proof such as a receipt or a photo which will show the history of the item will significantly prove its authenticity.

Driscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of quality antiques and antique furniture. Benedict Yossarian is a freelance Internet Marketing Consultant that can help maximize your exposure online.